How long do you prepare before hitting the ball?

[5IronFan]

I think I rush too much. How many seconds do you prepare before you make your swing? Right now, I only do about 7 seconds. I suppose it might make a difference what stage you're at, so I'll point out I'm a beginner.

[mhodar13]

Lol usually only a few seconds but sometimes if everything doesn't feel just right it will take me 30 seconds or more before I get comfortable, like when the tee box is really uneven lol.

[Zeph]

I have usually selected my club before I get to the tee, either by knowing the course or looking at the course guide. I pick up my club and a tee from the bag. On the tee I first find an area which is reasonably flat on the side of the tee I wan't to hit from. Then I find a divot, tee or some sort of mark on the ground which I aim my shot through. I stand back, make sure I aim the right place, make a small practice swing. From there I set up to the ball, look at the target once or twice before I swing.

Same routine from the fairway, except I don't get to place my ball, so I look for some random object or mark on the ground to aim through.

On the fairway (or rough), if it's an approach shot, I locate the closest distance marker and perhaps pace up the distance to my ball to find the right club.

[imtomtomim]

My recent secret to playing really well is to not waste time standing over the ball. I take my practice swings behind the ball looking at the target, and then I walk up and hit it. No adjustments. The longer you're over the ball, the more manipulations in your body you will tend to experience. I definitely spend less than 7 seconds over the ball. It would only be that long if I looked up at the target and waggled twice. I'm pretty sure on standard, I'm over it less than 5 seconds. If you're talking about pre-shot routine, I spend maybe 15 seconds on that. No time for any doubts to show up. Pick a shot, get the feel, go hit it.

[normdamarine]

It really depends on your personality... If you are a calm guy then your pre time should be a little longer where as if you are a quick tempered person it should be quicker...

Me personally, when I have a bad hole I just go to the T and hit the shot hoping to hit it in the trees and get the pain over with...lol

[David in FL]

Pull the club, visualize the shot, one loosen up practice swing, address, pull the trigger.

No more than 20 seconds or so from pulling the club to taking the shot in most cases. No need to rush either.

[Big_M]

I have no set time... I am very much a feel player so my routine goes something like this...
1) determine shot shape
2) find distance, factor wind, elevation, etc. and pull club
3) stand behind ball and visualize shot
4) step into shot and possibly take a practice swing or two to "feel" shot
5) waggle and hit ball

Someitmes when trying to hit a difficult shot, such as a low hard hook from the trees, I spend more time "feeling out" my practice swings whereas, I might not even take a practice swing when teeing of with my driver or hitting a standard 8-iron from the center of the fairway.

Like I said... I'm a feel player and I have found that having too rigid of a routine is bad for me... I still like having one, but it is fluid and I hit my shot after visualizing and feeling the shot, be it 5 seconds or 25.

However, after I do feel that shot, I would never address the ball and stand over it for any significant amount of time... it's just address, waggle (if driver), and swing.

[Dub]

I have no set time... I am very much a feel player so my routine goes something like this...

You just nailed it. This is exactly my "routine". The only thing different is that I very seldom take a full practice swing....maybe just a 25% speed...feeling the positions.

[lumpuckeroo]

Pull the club, visualize the shot, one loosen up practice swing, address, pull the trigger.

My routine also, but I rarely take a practice swing, only take a practice swing if I have a bad lie or have to hit an odd shot, like a punch under a tree.

[leezer99]

I used to take an agonizingly long time to pull the trigger but now I just get up, hit the ball and deal with the outcome later. I also used to be an 18 and now I'm trending to a 9 so make of it what you will.

[Zeph]

I have played with some people that take a minute for every single shot.
- First he have to find which club to use
- Then he goes up to look at the hole
- Take his address
- Hover the club behind the ball for 10-15 minutes, nudging it up and down
- One practice swing
- Two practice swing
- Step closer to the ball, feet together
- Look at the target, club in front
- Left foot left, right foot right
- Look at target
- Hover the club behind the ball for 10-15 seconds
- Swing and slice into the woods

Angel Cabrera would be fun to play with. No dilly dalling there.

[finoky]

From the time I reach my ball, or it's my turn on the tee box, I will have hit my shot in 20 seconds or less.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Less than 15 seconds. Ive usually done all my decison making by the time i get to the ball. (one of the benefits of walking) So im ready to go by the time i get there. I just pick out my intermeadiate target, take a few practice swings, line up and shoot. When ive hit my ball into junk and i cant see it as i walk up, i might take more time just because i couldnt visualize a shot before i got to the ball.

[chriskzoo]

Get the yardage
Pull the club
Pick the target
Go time

I don't waste time on practice swings unless I'm in the rough to gauge how thick it is (maybe a few clips of the grass to get down a rhythm while others hit).

[iWALK18]

I actually feel that I take too long to hit my shots. Its something which wasn't a problem for me before this year, but when i switched irons for some reason I started spending much more time over the ball.

I would say that on the tee box I take between about 30 and 40 seconds from the start of my routine till I hit my ball. I do have a several steps, but what really could be cut down is the time i spend over the ball before actually hitting it. I probably take 10-15 seconds just standing over most tee shots.

I would like to get it down to about 20 seconds.

[hkmp5]

I just want to scream at people who take forever to hit the stinkin ball , We had a guy join us who packed his clubs on his back set the clubs down pulled out his range finder when he is 300 yds away select his club take five practice swings step back take a look one more practice swing and 15 secounds over the ball and go.

I think I had time to run back to the club house and get a couple of hot dogs in between shots, next time I leaving these type people behind. I played 18 holes today by myself in 1 hr 45 minutes no practice swings for me and I was 7 over and happy as could be.

All my buddies play ready golf who ever is ready goes almost like playing by yourself within a group.

[LongballGer]

I play very fast.

I pick a target, take a practice swing from behind the ball and then I just go up and hit it.

[shortstop20]

Two pactice swings in sucession behind the ball. Line up, look at target, waggle, look at target, waggle, Hit the ball.